Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Fort Valley State University’s Office of Financial Aid is required to determine whether a student is making measurable academic progress while completing an eligible degree or certificate program. Students who meet academic progress can continue to receive federal, state, and institutional funds, while those who are not meeting progress become ineligible.

There are three components a student must meet to be eligible:

1) Qualitative Component – must meet a certain minimum GPA requirement as determined below.

2) Quantitative Component – must successfully complete 67% of courses attempted

3) Maximum Timeframe for Degree Completion – students must complete their coursework within 150% of their degree program

Financial aid resources impacted by SAP include, but are not limited to:

• Federal Pell Grants (PELL)
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
• TEACH Grants
• Federal Work Study (FWS)
• Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE)
• Dual Enrollment
• Direct Subsidized Unsubsidized
• PLUS
•  Grad PLUS Loans

Foundation Scholarships

*Students may still qualify for some Foundation Scholarships depending on the term of the scholarship. Students must contact the Foundation to evaluate which aid may apply*

Use the online SAP Calculator: SAP Calculator | Financial Aid | Lane Community College (lanecc.edu)

Phase 1: End of Semester Calculation

SAP is processed at the end of each semester for any student who has received financial assistance

• Students who meet the SAP policy will be set to Making Satisfactory Academic Progress for the next semester the student attends. 
• Students who do NOT meet the SAP requirements will be set to “Warning” or “Suspended” for the next semester a student attends. 

1. Qualitative Grade Point Average (GPA) (Cumulative)

• Undergraduates must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA).
• Graduate students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA).

Please note that while passing grades (P) and (S) are treated as completed units, they do not count in the GPA calculation.

2. Quantitative Hours Completed (Completion Rate) (Cumulative)

Completion Rate = total credit hours earned / total credit hours attempted

Calculation is performed in Banner after final grades are posted by the Registrar at the end of the semester.

• The financial aid recipient must have passed at least 67% of all hours attempted (including learning support attempted hours and all attempts for courses repeated).
• Grades of A, B, C, or any derivative of these letters are “satisfactory” for financial aid purposes. Courses with grades of F, WF, W, U, I, IP/CP and NR are included in attempted credit hours

3. Maximum Time Frame for Degree Completion

• Students are eligible to receive aid for 150% of the time normally required to complete an academic program.
• Graduate students are ineligible to receive federal or state financial assistance once they have earned a maximum of 72 credits.  
• Students attempting their second bachelor’s or master’s degrees will only be able to receive up to 150% of both degrees. For example, if a student completed their first bachelor’s degree in 120 credits, but 150% of their second program is 180, the student will receive financial assistance for 60 credits.  

Major Changes

Students who change their major will often run into issues with max time fame. When a student changes their major the system can no longer compute this calculation accurately. A student would need to complete the SAP Max Time Frame Review Form. This review will determine if you have truly exceeded your hours for your current program. If not, your aid will be reinstated contingent upon your evaluation.

Students appealing Maximum Allowable Time Frame must complete and submit the SAP Appeal Form and Academic Progress Plan form together.

Phase 2: SAP Warning

Students that are not meeting the Qualitative and/or Quantitative standards at the end of a term are automatically given one (1) Warning semester.

Student Information for “Warning” Semester

1. Not applicable to the Max Time Frame standard
2. Students must be fully in compliance with all components by the end of the Warning semester to regain eligibility and receive funds for future semesters.

A student failing to meet the SAP standards after an initial “Warning” will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid. The student will be placed in a “Suspension” status.

Phase 3: SAP Suspension

• Failure to meet one or more SAP components for two consecutive terms, or the next two semesters of a student’s enrollment.  
• Students have the right to appeal a financial aid suspension if extenuating circumstances have prevented them from meeting the SAP requirements.
• Students not making SAP will be notified via their FVSU email. SAP status is also viewable on the students’ Banner Web account.

Phase 4: SAP Appeal

Students who are on SAP suspension have a right to appeal their status, if they believe they had an extenuating circumstance, which stopped them from performing well academically. The extenuating circumstance must be documented.  

Extenuating circumstances can include: 

• Death of an immediate family member, such as parent, legal guardian, sibling, spouse, grandmother or grandfather. This does not include aunts, uncles, cousins, girlfriends, or boyfriends. Acceptable documentation would include an obituary with the student listed under relationships. 

• An unplanned injury or illness to the student or an immediate family member. Acceptable documentation includes a signed doctors note with days seen or medical discharge paperwork showing dates hospitalized. We do NOT need to know diagnosis.  

• Call to active duty. Acceptable documentation is a copy official orders showing dates the student is required to report. 

• Other special circumstances outside of the student’s control.  

To appeal students, must log into their Verify My FAFSA page and complete the following by the SAP appeal due date: 

• SAP Appeal Request Form, being specific about dates and signatures 

• Watch and upload the Key Components to the FA SAP Appeal Process 

• Upload a current Academic Advisement Progress Assessment Plan signed by both you and your advisor 

SAP appeals received after the deadline will not be reviewed. Also, unless requested, do not submit supporting documentation to the Office of Financial Aid’s email.  

Most SAP appeals are reviewed within two weeks of submission. Students who have appeal decisions pending are notified via the Appeal Form that there is no guarantee a decision will be made before the tuition and fee payment deadline. 

As part of FVSU’s policy, students can only appeal their SAP Suspension three times throughout their academic career at FVSU.  

• Please Note:  A student paying for his/her tuition and fees or sitting out for one or more terms does not automatically reinstate the student’s financial aid eligibility. 

Any person found to have intentionally submitted fraudulent documents shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action and adjudicated under the student conduct policy. 

Phase 5: SAP Appeal Decision

SAP Appeals Approvals

Students who have successfully submitted their SAP appeal and receive an approval, must be sure they meet the each of the requirements listed below: 

• Maintain a semester GPA of a 2.5 
• Do not withdraw from a course without speaking to the Office of Financial Aid first 
• Complete either a free 8-week course, or successfully attend any required academic workshops, as determined by the SEA Center.  

Students who do not meet these requirements at the end of the semester will be placed on SAP Suspension for the next semester of enrollment.  

SAP Appeal Denials 

Students who successfully submitted their SAP appeal and receive a denial will not have any federal or state financial assistance added to their account.  

However, students may still be eligible for FVSU Foundation Scholarships or other outside scholarships they may have received. In addition, students can apply for Private Loans. Please be aware you will be required to pay any outstanding tuition and fees by the payment due date. 

The SAP Suspension will be in effect until the student is once again meeting all three components of satisfactory academic progress.  

Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid at financialaid@fvsu.edu